What Shall Be the Sign...Part 4

I wanted to briefly go back to the parable of the 10 virgins in order to provide a proper understanding of the context of the parable by discussing the customs involved in the Hebrew wedding.  

 After the groom-to-be made a formal wedding contract with the bride-to-be and her father and executed the contract with a cup of wine, the bridegroom would set out to build a home suitable for his new bride.  This would take a very long time, sometimes up to a year or more.  At the completion of the home and the bride-chamber was made ready the groom's father would inspect his son's work, nothing could proceed until the father gave his approval. 

While the bride would wait for the groom she would wear a veil to indicate that she was betrothed. She would use this time to prepare herself for married life. She would wait at home every night accompanied by her bridesmaids because she would not want to miss the bridegroom’s coming. Traditionally, he would come late at night in order to take her by “surprise”. The bridesmaids would keep oil in their lamps and keep watch in order to alert the bride to make herself ready.

At a time of his choosing the bridegroom would go to the home of the bride to “abduct” her.  When the bridegroom arrived, the bride and her bridesmaids were carried off into the night. They would travel through the streets with fanfare and laughter. The bride and groom would enter the bride-chamber for seven days of intimacy.  Afterward they would emerge from the bridechamber as husband and wife. 

 The parable of the 10 virgins references the wedding custom of the “abduction of the bride”.

Picking up with the rest of II. c.

-        John 2:3-10 - And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.  His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do [it].  And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.  Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.  And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare [it].  When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: [but] thou hast kept the good wine until now.

1.     Jesus replenished the wine

2.     After the manner of purifying of the Jews – a Pharisee tradition that is not mentioned in the Old Testament, this is a tradition of man that Jesus turns upside down, because the wine He made was not purified in accordance with this custom.

-        1 Corinthians 10:16 - The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

-        Ephesians 5:18 – And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

1.     Thesis à drunk…antithesis à filled

2.     Thesis à wine…antithesis à Spirit

a.      Revelation 17:1-2 - And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

-        Revelation 14:10 – The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

1.     Wine = wrath of God

2.     Wine is made through a pressing and a fermenting process, God’s wrath can have similar attributes.  God is longsuffering, not desiring any to perish.

-        In conclusion regarding the significance of the instructions given not to “hurt” the Oil and Wine according to Revelation 6:6.

1.     We have the execution of the marriage contract with the cup of wine, we also have wine symbolic of God's wrath.  At this point the intent for preserving the wine appears to be inconclusive.

2.     During this time of war, famine and pestilence we can see God’s grace continuing to be extended to those who receive it (Oil).  Therefore the intent for preserving the oil seems to pertain to the continuing presence of the grace of God.

§       Revelation 6:7-8 - And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.  And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword (wars), and with hunger (famines), and with death (pestilence), and with the beasts of the earth.

o      The pestilence could refer to a future pandemic that is promulgated through man-made viruses and weakening of the immune system through all of the vaccination, antibiotics and other foreign substances that we have allowed unwitting medical professionals to inject in our bodies.  The introduction of several adverse contaminants have plagued human populations around the globe, these include:

-        Genetically modified vegetation, See the documentaries: The Future of Food;  The World According to Monsanto

-        Fluoridation of water, See book and documentary titled The Fluoride Deception

-        Contaminated vaccinations, See Dr. Sherry Tenpenny’s book titled Saying No to Vaccines , See also Dr. Mercola’s interview with Dr. Shiv Chopra (available on Youtube)

-        Spraying of chemicals in the atmosphere, See documentary What in the World are They Spraying?

-        Hormones in meats, See The Future of Food;  Food, Inc.

-        Contamination of fishing waters, See stories related to the Gulf of Mexico spill, dumping of hazardous waste, etc.

-        Contamination of the earth, see stories regarding disposal of hazardous waste, fracking, GMO crops, etc.

-        Overuse of antibiotics

o      Governments have been trying to artificially control the earth’s climates for years.  Artificial drought can be used to reduce food supplies, thereby increasing the price of food.  As food prices skyrocket people are going to be forced to choose between food and other necessities.  Using food supplies to control populations is not new.

-        For artificial weather control programs see stories related to HAARP.

-        Also see stories related to Geoengineering, See www.geoengineeringwatch.org

What Shall be the Signs...Part 2

f.      Revelation 6:1-2 - And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.  And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

§        The first seal opened in the Revelation of Jesus Christ portrays a rider on a white horse with a bow and no mention of arrows.

§        This appears to be one of many “2^nd but opposite” themes that run throughout the Bible going all the way back to Genesis.

§        This rider goes forth with the intention to conquer (this may not be evident) and he is successful in conquering

§        White has always been symbolic of peace or surrender, yet this rider is going forth conquering and to conquer.

§        This could be a reference to the conquering of nations through a deceptive false peace by playing on people’s natural desire for peace.

§        This would be a major deception that could usher in a world ruler that governs by the forced acceptance of this false peace, thus he conquers with an empty bow (and a lying tongue). 

§        Revelation 19:11 - And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

o       Here we have the authentic Word of God returning with armies upon white horses and with white raiment, it seems that he who rides the white horse in Revelation 6:1-2 is an imposter that fits the bill described in Matthew 24:4-5

o       Clear distinction is made so that confusion can be avoided

g.     Deceive - πλανάω planaō, verb, to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way.  Used 51 times in 37 verses in the New Testament.

§        Matthew 18:13 - And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that [sheep], than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

o       The word that was translated to “astray” in this passage is πλανάω planaō, the same word translated to deceive in Matthew 24:4. 

§        Matthew 22:29 - Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

o       The word that was translated to “err” in this passage is πλανάω planaō, the same word translated to deceive in Matthew 24:4.  This passage could be read “Ye have been led astray…”

o       Being in error is being led astray

o       Who leads us astray?

§        1 John 2:26 - These [things] have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

o       The word that was translated to “seduce” in this passage is πλανάω planaō, the same word translated to deceive in Matthew 24:4.  This passage could be read “…concerning them that lead you astray…”

h.      Looking at the future from a historical perspective.

§        Revelation 18:21-24 - And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast [it] into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.  And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft [he be], shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.  And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

§        Describes the methods of deception employed by the merchants of the earth in order to gain power

§        Sorceries - φαρμακεία pharmakeia, feminine noun,

1.      the use or the administering of drugs

2.      poisoning

3.      sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it

4.      metaph. the deceptions and seductions of idolatry

o       Root of the English word Pharmacy, which should give pause because we have become a world dependent upon drugs that treat the symptoms rather than the source of the problem.  We can see this at the micro level (being individuals) and metaphorically speaking at the macro level (government) we treat the symptoms when the problems (specifically in the USA) can be traced to one source, the lack of repentance and a right relationship with the Lord.

o       Additionally, we have the deception of parents with vaccinations that do children more harm than good.  Very credible professional have researched and documented the dangers of vaccinations, yet they are largely silenced.  What is the agenda of the pharmaceutical companies who push vaccinations?  Though vaccinations themselves are not very profitable for these pharmaceutical companies, the drugs used to treat the side effects can be extremely profitable, and serves as an incentive to sequester information that could lead to a reduction of mass vaccinations. 

o       This leads to generation after generation being completely dependent on the supply of drugs rather than God for our health and well-being.

o       We need scientists, researchers and doctors to be independent of the pharmaceutical companies to ensure that their research is reliable and not self-serving. The love of money is the root of all evil and when money is involved through federal or private funding of research projects, scientists have an incentive to skew results to achieve a desired result by those funding the grant.

II.            Beginning  of sorrows (Matthew 24:6-8, Mark 13:7-8, Luke 21:9-11)

Matthew 24:6-8	Mark 13:7-8	Luke 21:9-11
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.	And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for [such things] must needs be; but the end [shall] not [be] yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these [are] the beginnings of sorrows.	But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end [is] not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:  And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

 

a.      Wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6, Mark 13:7, Luke 21:9)

§       Revelation 6:3-4 – And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.  And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth (wars and rumors of wars), and they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

b.     But the end is not yet (Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:7; Luke 21:9)

§       There is this partition between the 1) wars and rumors of wars where Jesus says see that ye are not troubled for the end is not yet.  Then…He proceeds into the next phase stating that 2) “nation shall rise against nation…” which he deems the beginning of sorrows or possibly the beginning of the end.

§       Thus we have two seals, one for the wars and rumors of wars (which has been going on for quite some time) and another for kingdom shall rise against kingdom (which can have spiritual as well as physical connotations) and seems to be an escalation of conflict.

c.      Nation against nation, Famines, pestilences and earthquakes (Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8, Luke 21:11)

§       Revelations 6:5-6 - And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

o      Ezekiel 4:10-17 - And thy meat which thou shalt eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day: from time to time shalt thou eat it. Thou shalt drink also water by measure, the sixth part of an hin: from time to time shalt thou drink. And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight. And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them. Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth. Then he said unto me, Lo, I have given thee cow's dung for man's dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith. Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment: That they may want bread and water, and be astonied one with another, and consume away for their iniquity.

-        Bread by weight ~ Scarcity

-        Matthew 20:2 - And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

§  Penny = δηνάριον dēnarion = days’ wage

-        Entire daily wage used for food

o      Lamentations 4:4-9 - The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them. They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her. Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire: Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick. They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.

-        Visage - תאר to'ar, masculine noun, shape, form, outline, figure, appearance

-        Black associated with famine and hunge